Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-02

manhood. 1t was impossible that he should
be a ladron-hs position in the bank, his
easy, self possessed manner, not brazCn, but
natural and innocent No, it was mistake
The next day, there being several Mexican
merchant, to start for Vera Cruz, Mr. Henry
Yorkc Of Wood g Co., was dispatched with
them in the morning stage He went well
armed and had the name of being II fighting
man. But as yet no crowd of Mexican pas
sengcrs has frightened n band of robbers
from its enterprise and so at sunrise, Norkc
discovered two small squads of borsomcn
bearing down on the stage from opposite di
reCtons.
"Therc are six of Them he said, "and we
are nine men, with only one woman. Are
we TO fight, gentlemen, or shall we sur
rendcrN
"Alexicans never surrender" cried one of
them. ave will fight TO the last drop of
blood"
eyes, always" answered the other eight.
81 shall be killed, oh, shall be Billcdn
shreked the frightened woman
1--WE shall defend you, scnora," they de-
clarcd TIE holscmcn drew near. All were
masked and armed. One party passed the
coach, wheeled and instantly returned.
Meanwhile Norke sprang from the stage,
which had STOPPED, and calling to his fellow
passengers to join him, fired his rifle at the
nearest of the gang and killed him. He then
began di-char4iug his revolver as they closed
in ON him, and booking about for his com
panions discovered them all in their seats,
pallid spectators of his rcctlcssncsS. In an
other instant pistol ball struck him down.
Evidently the ladroncs had only contempt
for the Mexican passengers, for they rode di-
rcctly forward to the fallen American, Whose
body they mcrcilcssly hacked to pieces with
their sabcrs for a warning to all who resist
cd their robbcries
The entire treasure Of Wood & Co. was
tul,cn from the person OF Gorke and his va
lse, and the passengers, the lady not cX
cpptcd. were robbed Of every article they
possessed, even to their outer clothing.
When the lalroucs left their captain opened
an embroidered jacket, revealing thc form of
a womon aud cried out with snccr, - on
are men Adio,"
WhCn the stage, returning, entered the
patio of the Hotel iturbide wish the body of
Mr. Sorar, it was met by Wood, to whom
the lady passenger declared that his partner
had been killed by an Englslman OF the
band, whose lower face was ruddy, narrow
and thin, ending III little shadoWy beard:
Chat hn had reached into the coach and shot
Norke IN the back, through the open door
way Of the opposite side, as he was firing
rapidly at the gang, and that as he with
drew his head his beard dropped from bis
chin and She had secured it,
At 10 O'Clock that morning he went to the
English bank with the woman, and presented
a check for payment As the teller lald down
tie money he saw the little wad OF beard on
the counter, picked IT up ana, LOOKING at II
curioualy, said: "W hat Is thlsf Atthesainc
moment Mr.. Wood discovered that ms com
panlon trembled violently ana was becoming
alarminGly pale, ana lost no time III leaving
the bank
The woman was sure OF the identity OF the
man, and would listen TO no possibility Of her
mistake. AS for MIR. Edgar Wood, he was
coniuundcd but lie did the customary thing,
and set an English detective on the track of
Mr. Carlos WatlilS, the teller of the English
bank of Mexico,
The next payment went to the line in
charge of paymaster and II mounted guard,